Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, everyone!

I awoke after sleeping late refreshed and not hungover and what a blessing that is. I am so grateful.

Last night, I had the privilege of speaking with my group at an alkathon. Thank heavens we were one of the early groups...I don't think I could have made it in the wee hours. I used to be so uncomfortable speaking at meetings and now it doesn't seem hard at all. I just say a little prayer that whatever I say might be useful to someone. I get good feedback so I guess I do alright. What a great way to end my first sober calendar year.

After the alkathon, my husband and I met up with some friends and went to a party. I only stayed for an hour or so and then went home to be with my kids and a couple of their friends that were sleeping over. Historically, my husband has stayed behind at this party and gotten shit faced with the guys. Much to my surprise, he arrived home shortly before the ball dropped and celebrated with us and our sparkling cider. My sons and their friends took pots and pans and banged them out on the front lawn to celebrate. It was truly fun and a blessing to be there and be sober. (Right now, the kids are engaged in the most competitive game of Risk I've ever seen..they haven't even expressed an interest in breakfast yet...for teenage and tweenage boys, this is amazing. My teenage daughter is still sleeping...too exhausting being in charge of her brothers and their friends for a few hours last night, I guess.)

I can't believe it's 2008. When I was a kid, I remember calculating how old I'd be in various years in the future and the 2000's seemed an eternity away. How the hell did it get to be 2008 so fast?? I'm thinking of leaving the Christmas stuff up because it will be back in ten minutes, lol.

Today I'm grateful for:

A whole calendar year (and many days on top of that) of hangover free mornings

That I find comfort in being part of the fellowship, as well as personal growth

That my husband didn't get drunk last night. He's not an alcoholic, but it still is hard for me to be around someone abusing alcohol

For a clear and beautiful day today

That I don't have to resolve to get sober in 2008 (though I do have to resolve to lose weight; some things never change, after all!)